# Tourism industry trends in Indonesia and Malaysia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-industry-trends-in-indonesia-and-malaysia
> Updated: 2026-09-17T15:27:10.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Tourism trends in Indonesia and Malaysia show significant economic impact and varying regional performance. In Indonesia, foreign exchange earnings from tourism reached $8.43 billion in the first half of 2026, following a strong 2025 performance. Within Indonesia, regional data for 2026 shows diverging trends: Riau Province experienced a decline in foreign arrivals, while the Riau Islands province reported a 12.88 percent increase in visits from January to July, driven by cultural and sporting events.

In Malaysia, the tourism sector contributed RM323 billion to the GDP in 2025, representing 15.9 percent of the national economy. The industry has become a major employer, accounting for 22.1 percent of the total workforce.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-17: Tourism sectors drive economic growth in Malaysia and Indonesia

Malaysia's tourism industry contributed RM323 billion (15.9% of GDP) in 2025, while Indonesia reported $8.43 billion in tourism foreign exchange for the first half of 2026.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tourism-sectors-drive-economic-growth-in-malaysia-and-indonesia

### 2026-09-01: Tourism trends diverge in Riau and Riau Islands provinces

Foreign tourist arrivals in Riau Province declined in July 2026, while Riau Islands saw a 12.88 percent increase from January to July, driven largely by visitors from Malaysia and Singapore.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tourism-trends-diverge-in-riau-and-riau-islands-provinces

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Cite as: Tourism industry trends in Indonesia and Malaysia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-industry-trends-in-indonesia-and-malaysia